Dictyopteris polypodioides (Stackhouse) Batters

Description: Frands to 30 cms long, branches flat and 1 - 2 cms wide with a narrow midrib. Branches thin and dichotomous, readily tearing at the margins.

Habitat: Rare. Sublittoral locally abundant.

Distribution: South-western distribution in the British Isles from south-west England, around Ireland except the east coast, south-west Scotland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Europe: Mediterranean, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic coasts of Spain and France. Further afield: Jamacia, Canary Islands, Mauritania and wesrt coast Africa.

Similar Species: Species of Fucus may appear similar but Dictyopteris is not thick and leatherly.

Key Identification Features:

• Fucus-like with a mid-rib, thin and delicate.

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map:  download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR Seasearch data - Grid map : Interactive map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.